Beaver went to the malt shop after he looked at the list; Claire and Leslie met him there.
"Oh, hi Claire, Leslie," Beaver said as he fidgeted in his seat.
"Hi. The party is off because my dad heard about the party. I just don't know how he knew!" Claire said with an angry tone.
"I'm sorry it's off but I guess its okay since I couldn't find anyone to go with Leslie."
Beaver looked at the table as they talked even though they didn't notice that Beaver wasn't really listening since he wasn't very happy.
"Well, I did find someone for Leslie and maybe we can just go to my house and hang around," Claire said.
"Okay but I'll have to ask my parents if I can have dinner at your house first."
"Its okay, my friend's mom already called your mom and she said okay," Claire said.
"Oh," Beaver said then after they talked they went home.
Beaver opened the door to the kitchen and saw June cutting some carrots then she stopped when he walked in.
"Well, Beaver, looks like you will be going out with your friend's house for dinner instead of the party."
"Yeah, Claire told me," Beaver said unenthusiastically.
"Who is Claire? What's wrong Beaver?"
"She is a friend who is going to be at the dinner," Beaver said sadly then he continued. "I didn't make the team."
"Oh, I'm sorry Beaver," June said sadly.
"Its okay, Mom."
Ward walked in through the kitchen.
"Hi dear, hi Beaver," Ward said then kissed June.
"Hi, Dad," Beaver said then June told him. "He didn't make the team and he's been invited to dinner tonight."
"I'm sorry you didn't make the team but the answer is no," Ward said firmly as Beaver and June looked at him.
"No what?" Beaver asked.
"No to dinner, you are eating with us," he responded firmly.
"Beaver, go on upstairs so I can talk to your father." Beaver went through the door leading to the hall to go upstairs.
"Ward, Claire's friend's mother called and invited her, her cousin and two friends for dinner. What has gotten into you?" June said then continued, "I talked to Claire's father, Zach and he told me that he and Darlene were leaving town today and since the party was cancelled he thought it would be nice for her to go to dinner. There is someone home."
Since Ward wasn't in a happy mood, he didn't want June to know what he heard about Claire, he thought for a moment then he called Beaver to the kitchen.
"Beaver, I've changed my mind, you can go to dinner but you need to be home by 8 tonight," Ward said then continued. "Do you get picked up?"
"Okay, Dad. No, I can go to Joe's house since he is a friend of Claire's and lives a few blocks from me."
"Go get washed up," June said as Ward sighed unhappily and Beaver who felt perky and happy went upstairs to wash up. June then continued. "Ward? What's wrong?"
"Nothing dear, I guess I've been working too hard," he giggled quietly even though she still felt he was hiding something.
While Ward and June ate, Beaver was at the friend's dinner as they talked about things while the adult in the house was upstairs. They talked about having parties after a football game that would include beer, why Mrs. Adams is a mean witch, prom dates, what school their parents want them to go to after high school and a high school play. Beaver started to feel a little left out since they talked about things that he wasn't interested in but when it was time to go home Claire never said good bye as they decided to go to another friend's house while he went home.
He told Ward and June the dinner went well and glad he went, then went upstairs to do his homework; June went to read while Ward tried to fix the plug on the toaster in the kitchen which he finished twenty minutes later. He joined June on the couch to read and talk to her.
"So June, I found out about our trip to San Diego," he told her as she turned to look at him.
"You did? When is the trip, dear?" June asked
"In three weeks," he smiled then continued. "And I got some places I'd like to take you dear."
"Oh, Ward!!" June said excitedly then they both kissed.
A few days later Beaver and Larry were at Larry's house, in his room talking about things.
"So Beav, I guess your dad didn't let you keep that race car you won, huh?"
"Oh, that's right, you left after I won that race car. No, he wouldn't and it's funny, Eddie said I wouldn't be able to keep it," Beaver said then continued. "I hate it when he's right."
"Yeah, my dad would yell at me and he would take away the car if I had won it then he probably would hit me."
"Your dad still hits you?" Beaver said.
"Sometimes yeah, but my sister finally got married so I don't have to hear her laugh when my dad is hitting me."
"Wally went off to college," Beaver said.
"Hey, that's neat Beav. Oh, and I saw you with that girl again today, are you dating her?"
"Well, yeah," Beaver said.
"Yeah, what's wrong with you Beav!! She could be as old as your mother!!"
"Hey, you leave my mother out of this and I love Claire!!" Beaver yelled even though he wasn't sure anymore.
"Okay, Beav. But just think about it, are you really happy with someone who is going to graduate in a year or two? I have a girlfriend, too."
"You do Larry?" Beaver asked surprised.
"Yeah, it's Juliana and she's in the same grade as I am," Larry told him.
"Okay Larry."
"I gotta leave 'cause I'm going to see her, so I'll see ya, Beav," Larry told him then they both left the house.
Beaver went home to see June was making lunch.
"Hi Beaver, just in time, I was going to call Mrs. Mondello to have you come home. And looks like it will just be you and me since your father is golfing," June said.
"Okay Mom. I'm hungry."
"So Beaver, how do you like having Larry back in Mayfield?" June asked as she took a bite of her sandwich.
"I'm glad he's back because I missed him. Mom can I ask you something?" Beaver took a drink.
"Well, sure Beaver."
"When you first dated, a guy, did you ever think about why you liked him a lot? And how much older was he?"
"Well, Beaver—." The doorbell rang as June got up to get it.
"Aunt Martha!!?" June yelled in surprise.
"Aunt Martha?" Beaver said quietly to himself in confusion.